The Tuskegee Airmen were
dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America's
first black military airmen, at a time when there were many people
who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and
patriotism. They came from every section of the country, with large
numbers coming from New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Philadelphia and Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal
desire to serve the United States of America at the best of his
ability.

Those who possessed the
physical and mental qualifications were accepted as aviation cadets
to be trained initially as single-engine pilots and later to be
either twin-engine pilots, navigators or bombardiers. Most were
college graduates or undergraduates. Others demonstrated their
academic qualifications through comprehensive entrance examinations.

No standards were lowered
for the pilots or any of the others who trained in operations,
meteorology, intelligence, engineering, medicine or any of the other
officer fields. Enlisted members were trained to be aircraft and
engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, parachute
riggers, control tower operators, policemen, administrative clerks
and all of the other skills necessary to fully function as an Army
Air Corps flying squadron or ground support unit.

The black airmen who
became single-engine or multi-engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee
Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama. The first aviation cadet
class began in July 1941 and completed training nine months later in
March 1942. Thirteen started in the first class. Five successfully
completed the training, one of them being Captain Benjamin O. Davis,
Jr., a West Point Academy graduate. The other four were commissioned
second lieutenants, and all five received Army Air Corps silver
pilot wings.

From 1941 through 1946, nine hundred
and ninety-six pilots graduated at TAAF, receiving commissions and
pilot wings. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews were
trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the United States.
Mechanics were trained at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Illinois
until facilities were in place in 1942 at TAAF.

Four hundred and
fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served overseas in
either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron)
or the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th
Fighter Squadron trained in and flew P-40 Warhawk aircraft in combat
in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 until July 1944
when they were transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th
Air Force.

The outstanding record of
black airmen in World War II was accomplished by men whose names
will forever live in hallowed memory. Each one accepted the
challenge, proudly displayed his skill and determination while
suppressing internal rage from humiliation and indignation caused by
frequent experiences of racism and bigotry, at home and
overseas. These airmen fought two wars - one against a military
force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.

The airmen who did not go
overseas and trained at Selfridge Field, Michigan as bomber crew in
the 477th Medium Bombardment Group experienced a great deal of
racism. These highly trained military officers were treated as
"trainees" and denied access to the base officers' club, an act
contradictory to Army regulations.

There was a rather heated
reaction and the Group was transferred to Godman Field, Kentucky.
The unfair treatment and hostility continued at Godman Field and in
early 1945, the group was transferred to Freeman Field, Indiana
where the hostilities finally reached a climax. When black officers
tried to enter the Freeman Field Officers' Club, against direct
orders for them to stay out, one hundred and three officers were
arrested, charged with insubordination and ordered to face court
martial.

The court martial
proceedings were quickly dropped against one hundred of the
officers; two officers eventually had their charges dropped and one
officer, Lt. Roger "Bill" Terry, was convicted. Fifty years later,
on August 12, 1995, at the Tuskegee Airmen National Convention in
Atlanta, Georgia, fifteen of the original one hundred and three
officers that were arrested received official notification that
their military records had been purged of any reference to the
Freeman Field incident. Also, Mr. Terry's court martial conviction
had been reversed and his military record cleared. The remaining
officers received instructions for clearing their records.

After the war in
Europe ended in 1945, black airmen returned to the United States and
faced continued racism and bigotry despite their outstanding war
record. Tuskegee Army Air Field continued to train new airmen until
1946, with women entering the program in several support fields.
Large numbers of black airmen elected to remain in the service but
because of segregation their assignments were limited to the 332nd
Fighter Group or the 477th
Composite Group, and later to the 332nd Fighter Wing at Lockbourne
Air Base, Ohio. Opportunities for advancement and promotion were
very limited and this affected morale. Nevertheless, black airmen
continued to perform superbly. In 1949, pilots from the 332nd
Fighter Group took first place in the Air Force National Fighter
Gunnery Meet at Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada.

During this period, many
white units were undermanned and needed qualified people but were
unable to get the experienced black personnel because of the
segregation policy. The newly formed U.S. Air Force initiated plans
to integrate its units as early as 1947. In 1948, President Harry
Truman enacted Executive Order Number 9981 which directed equality
of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed
Forces. This order, in time, led to the end of racial segregation in
the military forces. This was also the first step toward racial
integration in the United States of America. The positive
experience, the outstanding record of accomplishment and the superb
behavior of black airmen during World War II, and after, were
important factors in the initiation of the historic social change to
achieve racial equality in America.

San Diego
-Today, the vision to honor one of World War II's most elite
combat units became reality with the unveiling of the
"Tuskegee Airmen Highway" -a dedicated section of Interstate
15 near Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San
Diego.

"The
Tuskegee Airmen not only helped defeat fascism overseas, but
just as importantly, they broke down the barriers of racism
and segregation here in America, which led to the complete
racial integration of the military," said Senator Joel
Anderson (R-San Diego), who authored the legislation which
made the highway dedication possible.

The vision
behind the resolution came from former CMSgt. USAF (Ret) and
Rancho Bernardo resident Oscar D. Teel who presented the
idea to Anderson at a pancake breakfast last year with the
Rancho Bernardo Historical Society.

SCR 90 not
only recognizes the outstanding achievement of the Tuskegee
Airmen, it also commends the work the nonprofit Tuskegee
Airmen, Inc does in our communities to introduce young
people across the nation to the world of aviation and
science through local and national programs.

Tuskegee
Airmen, Inc. (TAI) is a non-profit organization with 55
chapters nationwide dedicated to:
1. Honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the history
of African-Americans who participated in air crew, ground
crew and operations support training in the Army Air Corps
during WWII.
2. Introducing young people across the nation to the world
of aviation and science through local and national programs
such as Young Eagles and TAI youth programs and activities.
3. Providing annual scholarships and awards to deserving
individuals, groups and corporations whose deeds lend
support to TAI's goals. TAI also gives awards to deserving
cadets in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

December 29, 1944, the weather was notorious
and unyielding. Encountering zero visibility, some eighteen
B-24 bomber crews were returning from a mission, flying in
the wrong direction. Running low on fuel and headed towards
the Adriatic, they were in imminent danger. However, the
alert response by the on‑duty control tower operator at
Ramitelli, in recognizing the sound of the engines. ...aided
in effecting a safe landing.

In juggling a forced landing of the big
"heavies" (bombers) at Ramitelli on its short airstrip built
for fighters. ..and the "red‑tail" (fighter) pilots
returning from their mission...the lives of some 180 bomb
crewmen were saved. The unrelenting weather stranded the
white visitors for several days at the Negro base, forging a
historical milestone‑‑blacks and whites. ..living, eating,
and sleeping together.

My research would divulge, seventeen of the
eighteen bomb crews were from the 485th Bombardment Group
(and one from the 455th). Thus, I would begin filling in the
missing pieces via my contact with Jerry Whiting and Dan
Haulman. Jerry is the Historian of the 485th BG, and son of
Wayne Whiting, a tail gunner with the 485th that was
temporarily "housed" at Ramitelli. Dan is Chief of the
Organizational History Division (Air Force Historical
Research Agency) at Maxwell.

Prior to the departure of the B‑24's, the
332nd Fighter Group Public Relations Officer, Eugene Weaver,
placed a letter in each plane. Below is a copy of that
letter (from Jerry). Also, a copy of the Letter of
Appreciation from the Commanding Officer of the 485t BG,
Col. Jack Tomhave, to the 366th Air Service Squadron of the
332nd FG (from Dan)

TO THE VISITING PILOTS AND
CREWS:

YOU HAVE BEEN THE GUESTS
OF THE 332ND ALL NEGRO FLIGHTER GROUP. WE HOPE THAT OUR
FACILITIES, SUCH AS THEY ARE, WERE SUITABLE AND ADEQUATE
ENOUGH TO HAVE MADE YOUR STAY HERE A PLEASANT ONE. ON
BEHALF OF COLONEL DAVIS AND THE COMMAND, I EXTEND TO YOU OUR
MOST HEARTY WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MANY HAPPIER
LANDINGS. YOU ARE WELCOME TO RETURN HERE AT ANY TIME AND I
AM SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE YOUR STAY AN ENJOYABLE ONE. THE
PILOTS OF THIS COMMAND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRES TO HAVE
IT MADE CLEAR THAT IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT
YOU AND LOOK AFTER YOUR WELL-BEING BOTH IN THE AIR AND HERE
ON THE GROUND. REMEMBER, WHEN YOU ARE UP THERE AND SEE THE
RED TAILED MUSTANGS IN THE SKY, THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS OF THE
332ND FIGHTER GROUP. HERE IS HOPING FOR A QUICK ENDING OF
THE WAR AND A BETTER AND MORE PEACEFUL WORLD.

MANY HAPPY LANDINGS,

/s/ Eugene
D.
Weaver
Capt., Air Corps

Public Relations O.

Headquarters

485th Bombardment Group (H)

APO
529 US ARMY

6 January 1945

Major E. Jones, Jr.

366th Air Service Squadron

APO 520, US Army

Dear Major Jones,

On behalf of the Officers and Enlisted Men of
485th Bombardment Group, I want to personally thank you for
the courtesy and assistance which you and the personnel of
the 366th Air Service Squadron so splendidly offered to our
crews which landed at your base on 29 December 1944. I fully
realize what an inconvenience this forced landing must have
made on your facilities, and the remarkable manner in which
you people of the 15th Fighter Command rose to the situation
is all the more commendable.

The very able assistance which your Service
Squadron has given to the 332nd Fighter Group is well known,
and now you have proven yourselves just as capable in
servicing our heavy bombers.